EXCERPT of “Wicked for Hire” & INTERVIEW with Lotta Smith

September 15, 2017

“Wicked for Hire” by Lotta Smith

Blurb:

Sometimes, the opportunity of a lifetime busts your door instead of gently knocking at it…

FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Medical student Amanda Meyers thought she had her life all planned out until people started dying the moment they touched her. Being cleared of any wrongdoing didn’t stop the medical school from expelling her, and it didn’t rid her of the unfortunate nickname Grim Reaper.

Luckily, having a rep as the harbinger of death isn’t a total resume killer. Rick Rowling, Special Agent for the FBI’s Paranormal Cases Division recruits her to work for the Bureau. But the sexy, brilliant, outrageous loose cannon proves to be just as untouchable as the mysterious creature or creatures that may be responsible for the seemingly unsolvable murder that becomes their first case together.

Instead of treating patients, Amanda’s life becomes a test of her patience and a wild ride into the wicked paranormal world where her new boss runs the show. Together they face a ghoulish force that could destroy the entire city and a grueling family dinner that could leave Amanda contemplating harakiri.

It’s a battle of life and debt [student debt, that is] and saving the world has never been so funny.

Wicked for Hire is part of the Paranormal in Manhattan Mystery series. If you like fast-paced mysteries full of quirky characters and unexpected twists, you’re gonna love this book.

Buy Wicked for Hire and start solving your next mystery today!

*****

EXCERPT

After an hour of additional agony, dinner was over.

When Rowling thanked my folks and stood to leave, carrying leftovers, I followed him out the door, just to be polite. If I didn’t need to be polite, I’d have snatched the leftovers, curled up in the corner of my room, and drank my sorrows away with cold meatloaf and mashed potatoes on the side. It’s common knowledge that leftovers are the yummiest part of the dinner, and I didn’t like the fact that my brand new boss got them.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you about my dysfunctional family,” I said.

“Dysfunctional? Your family?” A corner of his mouth lifted. “After all, there was no bloodbath during the meal. You should see mine to get an idea of a dysfunctional family.” He didn’t seem to be kidding.

“Wow,” I replied.

“By the way, Mandy.” He looked me in the eye. “Do you want him dead?”

“Him? Who? What are you talking about?”

“Justin, your ex-fiancé,” he said nonchalantly. “If you’d like, I can have him killed, make his death look like a totally innocent accident. People often die of freak accidents, such as—”

“Too much information!” I covered my ears with my hands. “And no, thanks. You don’t need to have him…. You know what,” I added hurriedly. Okay, so technically, I often fantasized about my ex-fiancé dropping dead by stumbling on the wet operation room floor and stabbing himself with the scalpel. Then again, it seemed like having Rick Rowling’s help in hiring a contract killer came with a huge price tag.

“Hmm, okay.” He nodded, loading the leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes on the passenger’s seat. “Remember, you can always change your mind.”

I thought a little, and said, “Thank you for the offer.”

“No prob.” He shrugged. “Hey, the doctor guy’s not worth your time.”

“What do you know about him?” I asked.

“He’s a self-centered, no good, arrogant asshole.”

“I know.” I chuckled.

“In addition, he’s deep in debt up to his eyeballs following a screw-up in options trading. His desperate attempt to recover the loss by scoring big in Vegas completely backfired. Obviously, card counting isn’t one of his strong suits. Anyway, even his family has cut him off.”

“How do you know that?”

“Do you really want to know how I got the info?” He raised an eyebrow.

“No,” I replied. “I was just saying.”

For a brief moment, we fell silent.

“Thanks for dinner,” Rowling said finally.

When I was about to say “It was nice having you over,” he cupped my face and kissed me lightly. On. The. Lips.

I knew I could have resisted, and I should have, but I didn’t.

It was just a brush of a kiss, but still deep enough to make me want for more.

“Good night.” He climbed into the Ferrari and drove away.

“Good night.” I stood outside until the taillights faded in the night.

How has becoming an author changed you? When I was in med-school, I realized that I wasn’t cut into a doctor, which devastated me. Just like Mandy in Paranormal in Manhattan Mysteries, I was almost finished with the school and backing off at that timing was almost impossible (to convince my family, and myself) so I didn’t quit, but everyday was a drag.

In order to forget about it, I started imagining two people trying to catch an eyeball-poking serial killer (Immortal Eyes, PI Assistant Extraordinaire). The writing process was fun but sometimes, I was like “OMG… what should I do?” about the next step in the story. So, I was thinking less and less about my real life issue, and I barely noticed that I couldn’t score a residency position, and I totally failed to become a doctor haha…

Walk us through what would be your perfect day: A quiet day with nothing to distract me–including myself. On a really good day, I can keep on writing without the temptation of reading trashy articles on the web.

Do you have any writing rituals? I recently found out that I write more without the sun. So I shut the sliding shutters of my room and use the fluorescent lights (a la vampire style). In order to avoid Vit D deficiency, I always go out for grocery shopping during the morning hours (like 10 AM). Also, I try to use the timer app as often as possible when I write. I set the timer to beep 10 minutes later, and I’m trying to write 200 words. But I often cheat by stopping the timer in-between so that I can finish the 200 words. I was so late at writing, but someone introduced me to an article about some bestselling author using a timer app to stop herself from idling, doing nothing.

Every author needs (a)…: Scrivener. My fellow authors recommended it. I’m just using it for character references, but it’s so handy.

What is your writing/editing/publishing process like? Step 1: Schedule and edit and proofreading dates, Step 2: I try to finish the MS by the deadline. It gets thrilling when I’m not sure if I can finish, but I try. Step 3: Editing and in between, I order the cover, and then I work on the plot of the next book. Step 4: Upload the complete MS before the deadline of Amazon’s pre-order.

People would be surprised to know that you’re…: That I’m not from New York City. Actually, I haven’t even visited Manhattan yet. I went as close as Newark, NJ, but it was in mid-winter and the air was so chilly that I couldn’t breathe. So I didn’t get to go sightseeing in Manhattan.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? You can edit your manuscript as far as something is written on it, but you can’t edit a blank document. It’s Golden words by bestselling author Agatha Frost.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? I’d like my readers to chuckle and laugh a lot by reading my books.

Is the social media more of a help a a hinder? Social media is helpful as it easily lets you ask some questions to bestselling authors. They might answer you when they’re not terribly busy, and the majority of their advices are so golden.

What are you working on right now? I’ve just finished the first draft of Speak of the Wicked: Book 9 of Paranormal in Manhattan. And a freebie short story (Whoever Finds the Wicked: Rick Rowling’s Secret File – Paranormal in Manhattan Mystery Prequel). Hopefully, I’ll start working on Book 10 soon.

*****

**GIVEAWAY**

**Click HERE to enter to win a free download of the prequel in the Manhatten series, “Whoever Finds The Wicked: Rick Rowling’s Secret File”!